SOUTH-BEND POLARIS WITH BOX AND PAPERS

December 04, 2004, 01:00

Lindell V. Riddle

South-Bend Polaris is generally considered the ultimate South-Bend watch. At the time these were introduced, several other companies were putting forward a prestige watch. So not to be outdone South-Bend reworked their best 16-size grade Open-Face, the 295 (294 is hunter) movement. Only five hundred numbers were blocked. All the Polaris movements were fitted with "South-Bend Polaris" dials then factory cased and timed in one of three South-Bend marked Solid-Gold cases. They were shipped to retailers in a "tiger maple" presentation box with a lifetime guarantee included.

Here is 518137 correctly cased along with box and papers...

December 04, 2004, 01:05

Lindell V. Riddle

South-Bend Polaris dial, the simple design speaks quality...

December 04, 2004, 01:06

Lindell V. Riddle

Plain-polished solid-gold case with the first owner's initials...

December 04, 2004, 01:09

Lindell V. Riddle

Details of the 14K solid Gold Case are simple but elegant...

December 04, 2004, 01:11

Lindell V. Riddle

Movement number 518137 is a 21-Jewel first model beauty...

December 04, 2004, 07:31

Jim Cope

...that's a WOW Lindell!!!was that regulator unique to SB?...

December 04, 2004, 07:57

Lindell V. Riddle

Thanks Jim,

Yes, that regulator interestingly combines a simple, practical design with real ease of adjustment.

Lindell

December 04, 2004, 12:06

Larry Soucheck

Now this a dandy watch. Just dandy!

Larry

December 05, 2004, 21:21

Samie L. Smith

Super nice watch Lindell and a rare one thanks for showing it..

December 05, 2004, 23:37

David Johnson

Lin,

I'm sorry.......now when was it that you said you were putting this one up for auction starting at a dollar with no reserve?

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.Just in case your jaw dropped, you know I'm kidding you right?

March 30, 2005, 14:03

Mark Shearholdt

Lindell,
I thought you would want to take a look at one of your favorite watches.

South Bend Polaris Serial #518467

Photo 1 of 4

Mark Shearholdt

March 30, 2005, 14:06

Mark Shearholdt

Photo 2 of 4

March 30, 2005, 14:07

Mark Shearholdt

Photo 3 of 4

March 30, 2005, 14:10

Mark Shearholdt

Photo 4 of 4

I am here at Jones and Horan Auction Team sitting with George Jones who showed me this watch and thought you might be interested. George would like to know what you think about the case. Is this Keystone 14K case original or a recase? By the way George says this watch will be auctioned on June 19, 2005.

Mark

March 30, 2005, 15:17

Lindell V. Riddle

Hello Mark and George,

That is a nice Polaris movement, hands and dial, very interesting example, but the Keystone case is not original. There was an engine turned case design available for the Polaris but let us be clear on this, it had "South-Bend Watch Co. - South Bend Ind." on the cuvette like you see in the fourth image of this topic. Interestingly, one of the Polaris cases in my collection shows a Brooklyn trademark near the 14K marking, apparently Brooklyn Watch Case Company made the Polaris cases.

Another point, the auction watch winding wheels are not original, but rest of the movement, dial and hands look good The movement number 518467 fits into the generally recognized 518001 through 518500 parameters. There was an earlier test run of Polaris movements and a few Grade 295 examples in that blocked run of 500 as well.

We always look forward to Jones and Horan auctions!

http://www.jones-horan.com/

Lindell